February 2011: What are you drinking?

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Originally posted by gigabit:

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Originally posted by GlennK:

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Originally posted by Gkapoor:
2003 Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde

Nice. How is this drinking?

+1

I have been trying a bottle every six to nine months from the case I purchased few years back. This was the best showing by far with the warm sweet fruit of the vintage at the core. The tannins are pretty much resolved with secondary aroma/flavors well in the mix.

2008 Beringer Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release

2007 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva
2007 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains
2006 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga (Reserva)

2008 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese
This is one of those ethereal Rieslings. Great, great balance.

Having my small wine group over tonight for roast duck and Pinot Noir. Don't have the wine list in front of me, but I'm hoping the 1998 Soter Beacon Hill shows well.

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Originally posted by eyesintime:
Having my small wine group over tonight for roast duck and Pinot Noir. Don't have the wine list in front of me, but I'm hoping the 1998 Soter Beacon Hill shows well.

Duck and Burgundy always sound good to me.

Enjoy the evening.

2001 Ensigna

Wednesday night:
2007 Rhys Chard
2005 Guyon Corton Charlemange
1997 Jaboulet La Chappele
2006 (?) vice versa
a 2006 italian supertuscan whose name I cannot spell but was 100% sangiovese and needed lots of time.
a 2001 italian syrah that Manfred Krankle is involved in that rocked.

Thursday at Chateau Stefania (guys please fill in names as I did not catch all the bottles):

a bubbly that was enjoyable
2008 Stefania Chard (wonderful with the crab)
2007 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountain Chard
1999 Ridge Monte Bello (was in a great place)
1984 Ridge ?????? Zinfandel (the ballpark frank wine)
1985 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow (in a great place)
2007 Sesson cab (for the money this was a good as it gets - I'll be buying)
2008 Stefania SCM cab
2008 Copper-Garrod viognier
There were also two pinots (one of which came in a 35lb bottle) that I did not get the producer names (or have since forgotten)

Friday - lots of airplane water.
G

2001 Pichon Lalande Reserve de la Comtesse
2007 Newton unfiltered Cab Sav

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Originally posted by wine+art:

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Originally posted by Board-O:

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Originally posted by wine+art:
1995 Leroy Clos Vougeot, an exquisite wine.
1995 Leroy Chambertin. While clearly stunning, just entering her drinking window.

This thing called cabin fever is not healthy.

Nice wine! I think the Leroy 1978 Chambertin was my WOTY a few years ago.

In my dreams tonight, I will simply tote your wine bag.

I think there has been more than one year where I could say that a Leroy wine was my wine of the year. I think I own more Leroy than any other producer. I've especially found the 1966 and 1964 vintages to show very well over the last 10 years. M. Bize just seems to get it right way more than wrong.

At a DAWGS offline recently:

2006 Cantina Terlan Gewürztraminer Alto Adige - Südtirol Lunare
1989 G.D. Vajra Langhe Freisa
2006 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia
1997 Zeni Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico

2006 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard

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Originally posted by wineismylife:
2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico

WIML - Is this starting to come around? Thanks.

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Originally posted by wine+art:

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Originally posted by indybob:
At a tasting this eve:

Doquet Brut NV Champagne, NV

2007 Chapoutier “La Berandine” Chat du Pape

Very nice.

They were both excellent. I was surprised at how open the Chapoutier was, and how nutty the Doquet tasted.

I was very impressed by the 2007 La Bernardine last summer. I called it outstanding and said it will improve. It was showing no signs of closing up.

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Originally posted by Dom'n'Vin'sDad:

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Originally posted by wineismylife:
2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico

WIML - Is this starting to come around? Thanks.

I say yes with some air but you're definitely in no hurry imho. Many years left for this one.

2008 Hamilton Russell Walker Bay Chardonnay.

2009 Calera Chard Mt. Harlan

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Originally posted by wine+art:
2008 Hamilton Russell Walker Bay Chardonnay.

Look at you heading down to South Africa. Thoughts?

2007 Clayhouse Vineyard Syrah- nice QPR

With lobster last night...

1997 Brochet Hervieux Hbh Cuvée Spéciale Brut Champagne

After lobster dinner...

2001 Five Geese Shiraz
2005 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block
2000 Rust en Vrede Stellenbosch Estate

2004 Belles Soeures PN

2004 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino

2007 Clio

2003 Quilceda Creek Merlot

2005 Achaval Ferrer Quimera. This is oppening up and drinking really well now. Old vine malbec with merlot and cabernet.

2009 Bethel Heights Pinot Gris

2009 Bodegas Juan Gil Monastrell Jumilla (White Label)
2004 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio

2000 Robert Foley Claret
2008 Schrader RBS
2008 Cameron Hughes Lot 200 Cabernet
2007 Jones Family Sisters
2007 Jones Family Estate Cabernet
2008 Myriad Spring Mountain Cabernet
2008 Anderson's Conn Valley Right Bank

2004 Donum Carneros Pinot Noir

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Originally posted by Board-O:
I was very impressed by the 2007 La Bernardine last summer. I called it outstanding and said it will improve. It was showing no signs of closing up.

It was at a discount last night, about $40, but the store that offered it should have it marked down again soon. The WS review uses words such as "brawny" and "muscular." I found it focussed, but tending more toward "pretty." Good wine.

Evening started with a '97 Poggio Alle Mura, old world style nose, not really my style, but still good, and a '97 Elderton Barossa Command Shiraz, which was quite good, and very live. Both were quite good with manocotti, garlic bread, and salad.

2006 Bond Matriarch. Openned with the others, and decanted 1.5+ hours. Big nose. More fruit forward, and more new world than the '05. Very tasty. I like it more than the '05, but I like them young and Cali style. Justified my '07 order. I'll double up if they'll let me.

2004 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese MSR
2009 Relic Ritual
2004 Domaine Serene Evanstaad
2002 Paloma Merlot
2001 Argiano Solengo
1995 Beringers Private Reserve Cab

2007 Calera PN Mills vineyard
2005 Pio Cesare Barolo

2003 Chateau Duhart Milon Rothschild- excellent and almost ready

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Originally posted by wineismylife:

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Originally posted by wine+art:
2008 Hamilton Russell Walker Bay Chardonnay.

Look at you heading down to South Africa. Thoughts?

Excellent wine, excellent.

I will be buying more. The wine drinks like an $80+ Burgundian wine. I plan on sticking it in a blind tasting of Burgundian wines.

2001 Antinori Pian Delle Vigne BdM.

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Originally posted by Board-O:
2003 Chateau Duhart Milon Rothschild- excellent and almost ready

Interesting. I own a botte of this wine. I did not expect a note from you. What would be your drinking window?

Last night was a 2004 Produttori Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano with homemade pizzas - I know it is still young, but I just had to give these 2004 Produttori Riservas a try and it did not disappoint.

Tonight will be a 2003 Alban Reva with BBQ pork sandwiches, baked beans and corn on the cob to go with an American theme as we watch the Superbowl. Need to make room for my Lorriane and Seymore Albans which should be coming soon.

Cheers

From the few 2003s I've had, this seems to be an early drinking vintage. The few right bank wines I've had in the last year seem ready to go. This wine is probably still improving, but I don't think it needs much more time, maybe a year or two. With one bottle, I'd probably have it in 2 years. Alternatively, watch for tasting notes to see what people have to say as time goes by.